Dispensing containers having double layered tuck-tab and opposing marginal tuck-slots



June 8, 1965 P. J. GRAYBILL 3,187,977 DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING DOUBLE LAYERED TUCK TAB AND OPPQSING MARGINAL TUCK-SLOTS Filed April 18, 1963 United States Patent 3,187,977 DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING DOUBL LAYERED TUCK-TAB AND OPPOSING MAR- GINAL TUCK-SLOTS Paul J. Graybill, Sunset Hill Drive, Pine Orchard, Conn.

Filed Apr. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 273,924 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) The present invention relates to dispensing containers in general and to those having opening and reclosing means inherent in the glue-end and the adjacent, at least partial multiple course, side-wall thereof.

This invention is an improvement and variation on the applicants structures of Patent Number 2,819,127 and allowed application Number 74,041 is now Patent No.

- 3,096,922, issued July 9, 1963. The improvement relates to the formation of the tuck-tab and the tuck-slot, or securing means, for said tuck-tab. In the instant case the tuck-tab has two layers of stock and the tuck-slots, or securing means for said tuck-tab, consists of opposing laterally marginal tuck-slots. Said securing means beinginherent in at least a partial three course side wall, at: least one course by which is formed from a Van Buren Ear.

Broad objective The broad objective of my invention is to provide. a one piece container of foldable stock having opening, dispensing, reclosing and securing means inherent in two adjacent, at least partial multiple course walls thereof, at least one of which walls consists of three courses, said means consisting of a dispensing aperture in one of said multiple walls thereof, a hinged cover articulated to said Wall, atwo course tuck-tab hingedly joined to thefree end of Said cover, and securing means for said tuck-tab inherent in the adjacent multiple wall thereof; said securing means consisting of at least one tuck-slot positioned externally to at least one of said courses of said multiple wall together with at least one friction wing articulated to said tuck-tab. Said partial triple side-wall may be formed in either of two ways (1) from an extended glue flap portion or (2) from double Van Buren Ears, together with the side wall of the container. The use of the extended glue-flap when used instead of-a second Van Buren Ear, affords some stability to the side wall in the closing operation and as such may be advantageous, even though requiring more stock in its construction. This instant structure is especially advantageous and desirable, as are the two previously mentioned structures, being easily opened, reclosed and reopened and does not require special machinery in cutting, forming or filling. It is also useful in packaging a wide variety of products when a reclosure is desirable. This new structure is a refinement over the previously mentioned structures and has the advantage of having a doube course tuck-tab which is stronger and, more especially, is more positive in the opening process since two courses of said cover are directly articulated to two courses of the tuck-tab and thus assuring its positive opening, which feature was not provided in the previous structures. Also, the instant structure permits the use of (at least one) two opposing lateral side slots which engage the marginal edges (friction wings) of at least one of the courses of the two course tuck-tab; hence after opening and reclosing in one embodiment of said structure, the position of all parts of said reclosing means are in the same relationship to each other as evenrbefore opening,-

and the container has the'exact unopened appearance. In

- one modification of the structure when protrusions from the medial layer are employed, small side protrusions or wings are visible after reclosing. Also, in the instant structure the inner course of said tuck-tab may have articulated to its free end a pull-tab which further facilitates the opening and closing thereof.

Thiscontainer thus in various sizes and arrangements is unusually well adapted for any and all fast pouring granular, seed, or powdered products where controlled dispensing is advantageous and a reclosure is required or desired.

Specific objectives The more specific objectives of my invention are as follows:

(1) To provide a'one piece glue-end container having inherent opening, reclosing and securing means in said multiple glue-end and the adjacent, at least partially multiple, side wall thereof, said means consisting of an aperture,'a multiple course cover therefor, a multiple course tuck-tab and at least one external tuck-slot so positioned on the multiple side wallthereof to receive and hold said tuck-tab by engaging lateral friction wings thereon.

(2) To provide such a container in which at least the multiple container side wall portion consists of three layers of stock, at least one of which'may be provided by a Van Buren Ear.

(3) To provide such a container in which said cover is cut releasably free on three sides thereof from said multiple end-wall and is articulated by a hinged connection on the fourth side thereof providing free rotation of said cover.

(4) To provide such a container in which said cover has articulated to its free end a multiple course tuck-tab (5) To provide such a container in which said multiple course tuck-tab has on its lateral margins securing means to engage itself with at least one of the two outer layers a laterally vertical tucloslot, said wing being formed and positioned to pull free from said tuck-slot due to the natural proclivity of the stock to bend or give sufliciently to free said wing when outward pressure is exerted in the original opening process, said tuck-slot being so positioned as to receive said wing when said tuck-tab is brought back into its original position by a downward sliding motion when said cover is being reclosed thus affording a reseal and securing said cover by the frictional contact of said wing in said tuck-slot. Said wing may be weakened by a cut-score or a crease to facilitate its operation if desired.

(7) To provide such a container in which in an alternate embodiment said securing means may be at least one protrusion tab articulated to the medial layer of the three layered wall, said protrusion tab or wing being formed from the inner layer of the two course tuck-tab,

, Ears together with the container side Wall, said Van Buren Ears being articulated glue-flap extensions.

(9) To provide such a container in which, in a modified embodiment, one of the layers is formed by an extended glue-flap preferably the inner layer of the three layered side wall being thus formed, with the medial layer being facilitate accessto the tuck-tab o'r pull-tab and closing operation.

fornied'by the Container side wall and the outer layer by a Van Buren Ear. (This order may be altered.) When this modified embodiment is used an access aperture may be cut in themedial layer (the container side wall) to in the opening under an overhanging portion of at least one of the courses of the triple side wall (this structure not shown). (:12) Finally to provide a one piece container formed from foldable material having opening, reclosing and securing means inherent in the glue-end and the adjacent, "at least partially. three layered, side wall thereof, said dispensing means consisting of an aperture in said glueend, formed by the displacement of a hingedly joined cover, together with said cover itself which is cut releasably free on three sides thereof from said glue-end and hingedly joined thereto on the fourth side. In one position,'said cove-r being an integral part of said glue-end,

sealing said container, in another position said cover being torn free from said glue-end and. rotated about on said hinged connection thus opening said aperture, andstill in a third position said cover being reclosed and secured by a multiple layered tuck-tab articulated to the free end thereof, said tuck-tab being secured by lateral tuck-slots engaging in a tongue and groove like action therewith,

- said lateral vertical tuck-slots being formed from the outer two of the three layered container side wall. Said tucktab may have a pull-tab articulated thereto to facilitate said opening and closing.

7 Designation of illustrations- These and other objectives and advantages will become apparent as the following detaileddes ci'iption proceeds,

when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the use of a twoc-our-se cover and tuck-tab, with inherent lateral securing A -;means is-employed, in conjunction with a multiple course glueend and an adjacent three-course side wall. 'Tll use of these specific modes are for illustrational purposes only and does not limit, to these, the application of the "essential features of my invention which are 1) a multiple course glue-end wall with an aperture and a cover,

(-2) 'a multiple course tuck-tab with lateral securing ;'means, (3) a triple course side wall so formed and positioned as to provide interlocking frictional securing means for said tuck-tab, and (4) a pull tab articulated to said tuck-tab'to faeilitate'the opening and closing operation. FIG. 1 is a partial view of the inside surface of the blank :ofmy preferred structure when the double Van Buren Ear together with the container side wall form the triple wall; this shows the'essential features, the aperture, the cover, the tuck-tab, the pull-tab and the lateral articulated friction wings,

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the container of FIG; 1 in' its pre-ope'ned'condition showing especially well the cover and the two course'tuck-tab,

' FIG. 3 is an isometric view'of a portion of the container "a three course side-wall is formed by the use of-an extended glue-flap together with one Van Buren Bar and the container side wall. This shows especially well the access aperture for the two course tuck-tab, said aperture being formed in the container side wall, a

, FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a-portion of the 'modifie 4 container of FIG. in its preopened condition showing the essential features of the container,

'FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a portion of a further modified container in a reclosed condition when the lateral tuck-slots are made from protrusions formed from the innermost Van Buren Ear. In-this embodiment no pull tab is employed.

FIG. 8 is a view of a small section of the inside of the pblank'showing how the container of FIG. 7 is laid out.

Description and manufacturing procedure Referring then to the drawings, in which the same or similar parts in the several drawings are indicated by the same number or letter for ease in identification, FIG. 1 is a View of a portion of the inside surface of the blank of my preferred embodiment of this structure, showing container side wallsdB, 2B, "3B and dB-and the side glue iiap 5B which are articulated to each other in the usual -way to form a four walled container'having as shown in FIG. 1 the usual glue-flap ll, 2, 3 and 4 articulated thereto respectively. Three of these flaps 2,3 and 4 are modified by cuts and crease-s to form the various members of the novel dispensing and reclosing means claimed herein.

forms the outer course of the glueend of the container, is modified by releasable lateral cuts and a crease to form the aperture D and the outer course of the cover C. This flap is articulated to a Van Buren Ear V which is formed from glue-flap 3. Likewise glue-flap 4 is modified to form the inner course of the cover C and is articulated to a Van Buren Ear V which 'is'also formed from glue-flap 3.

Glueailap '3 thus forms two Van Buren Ears, or end glue flap extensions V and V and is further modified by releasable cuts to form the double course tuck-tab T and T and the pull-tab P which is articulated to the free end of T 1 by hinge crease H. T is modified 'bytwo diagonal across-the-corner creases to form'wings W.

' The container as shown in F-IG. 2 is formed the usual way, having adhesive and color applied in the proper areas to facilitate the functioning of the dispensing means,

' which facts are known to those skilled in theart of con tainer construction.

This container is die cut and glued in the usual manner and can be formed on any machine which can form containers with Van Buren Ears; when the container is filled and closed it is inall respect similar to anyfull glue-end container.

The opening process is made simple and easy,'pull tab P' is" drawn outwardly from the container'side wall 3B which in turn also draws tuck-tab T and T also outwardly, separating its releasable articulations from the adjoined'Van Buren Ears V and V Friction wings W flex sufiiciently to withdraw from behind the protruding .portions of Van Buren Ear V, thus freeing the two layered tuck-tab T and T This in turn releases the cover C and C as pressureis further applied, opening the-dispensing aperture'D. The cover can then be held against the boX end with one finger as the contents are poured. When the container is to be reclosed tuckT and T is rotated about and positioned against the container end and pressed "downwardly'until the cover-closes the aperture. Side the extended side-glue flap SB, is opened and closed in the a same. manner. 7

The container of FIG. 7 is also similar except that it pulls freely outwardly from the container wall since there is no oyerlay of stock to be Overcome. It is closed by inserting both courses of tuck-tab T and T behind protrusion wings W, 'FIG. 7.

The containers here described can be used with caulk seal equipment and afiord very eflicient closures which can be easily opened for dispensing and as easily reolosed to insure against accidental spilling or contamination.

Summary and novelty It should be noted at this point how the novelty of this construction aifords several beneficial results. (1) The container as described is formed from a standard full glue-end blank. The only changes are minor alterations in the steel-rule cutting die; no additional stock or other appendage is necessary, (2) the blank is glued in a standard straight line gluer, (3) the container is set up and filled on any standard filling machine which forms containers having Van Buren Ears. The only alteration is a split glue wheel on one of the side glue-flaps. (4) The container affords a very elfective closure. (5) The container can be easily opened by grasping the pull-tab with the fingers; no special instrument is necessary. (6) The container affords ready access to and dispensing of the contained products. (7) The container is readily and securely reclosed by tucking the tuck-tab into the tuckslots, accidental opening being thus prevented. (8) The container is readily and easily reopened by pulling the pull-tab upwardly and sliding the friction Wings out of the vertical tuck-slots.

The container then in its essential form aflfords a very efiicient and economical package for a great number of foods and other products which require an eflicient closure and a handy dispensing and reclosing means, this without the cost of special machinery or additional stock (except when the extended glue-flap is used), or additional appendages such as metal spouts. The container is a decided advance in packaging, meeting an urgent need in the reclosure field.

It is understood then that the embodiment shown is only an example and various changes in shape, size or arrangements of part-s may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container formed of foldable stock having opening, dispensing, closing and securing means inherent in two adjacent multiple walls thereof, at least one of said walls having at least three layers of said stock, said means consisting of a dispensing aperture, a hingedly joined cover thereto, a double layered tuck-tab hingedly joined to the free end of said cover, said tuck-tab having lateral friction wings articulated thereto, said container also having at least one essentially vertical tuck-slot so positioned externally on the side wall thereof adjacent to said aperture to frictionally engage in a tongue and groove relationship said laterally protruding friction wings when said container is in a closed condition, said tuck-tab may also have articulated thereto an adhesive free pull-tab.

2. The dispensing container of claim 1 in which said side friction wing is weakened along its articulation by a crease or cut-score to facilitate its flexing as it is being drawn outwardly from the container side wall and from said tuck-slot.

3. The container of claim 1 in which said securing means are essentially vertical tuck-slots formed by lateral friction wings or protrusions articulated to the medial layer of the triple container wall and in which tuck-slot said tuck-tab is positioned when in a closed position.

4. The container of claim 1 in which one of the multiple walls is :formed from an extended end glue-flap, the container side-wall and an extended side glue-flap, said medial layer of said wall having an access aperture therein so positioned as to facilitate the access to said pulltab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,523,039 1/25 Reed 229-17 X 1,988,582 1/ 35 Weiss 229-17 X 2,812,126 '11/57 Graybill 22917 2,812,127 11/57 Graybill 229-17 3,096,922 7/ 63 Graybill 22917 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER FORMED OF FOLDABLE STOCK HAVING OPENING, DISPENSING, CLOSING AND SECURING MEANS INHERENT IN TWO ADJACENT MULTIPLE WALLS THEREOF, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WALLS HAVING AT LEAST THREE LAYERS OF SAID STOCK, SAID MEANS CONSISTING OF A DISPENSING APERTURE, A HINGEDLY JOINED COVER THERETO, A DOUBLE LAYERED TUCK-TAB HINGEDLY JOINED TO THE FREE END OF SAID COVER, SAID TUCK-TAB HAVING LATERAL FRICTION WINGS ARTICULATED THERETO, SAID CONTAINER ALSO HAVING AT LEAST ONE ESSENTIALLY VERTICAL TUCK-SLOT SO POSITIONED EXTERNALLY ON THE SIDE WALL THEREOF ADJACENT TO SAID APERTURE TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE IN A TONGUE AND GROOVE RELATIONSHIP SAID LATERALLY PROTRUDING FRICTION WINGS WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS IN A CLOSED CONDITION, SAID TUCK-TAB MAY ALSO HAVE ARTICULATED THERETO AN ADHESIVE FREE PULL-TAB. 